The Law Society has welcomed the High Court’s ruling that the fast-track deportation of foreign nationals, which did not allow enough time for them to seek legal advice, is unlawful.

In January 2010, the Home Office widened its policy of waiving the usual 72-hour notice period that it gave individuals who had been refused permission to remain in the UK, before seeking to remove them.

Medical Justice, a body that provides medical and legal advice to people facing removal, challenged the policy.

In a witness statement given in support of that challenge, the Law Society said the move would ‘seriously inhibit’ a person’s access to justice, as it would remove their ability to contact their legal representative and inhibit their right to appropriate judicial remedies.

Earlier this week, the High Court ruled the policy was unlawful and deprived people of access to justice, and should be quashed.

The Home Office, which was given leave to appeal, said it was ‘disappointed’ with the decision and will appeal. Law Society president Linda Lee said: ‘I am extremely pleased with the High Court’s decision that will now put an end to this unjust practice.’

‘We are renowned throughout the world for our justice system, and the fast-track deportation system seriously undermined our credibility as supporters of human rights for all,’ she said.